Dacia Bigster Hybrid - long-term review

Strangely, no one really fought for the right to run the Dacia Bigster in the Top Gear office, but honestly that worked to my advantage, because I asked for it and have a surprisingly effective resting angry face.

But I do get it: the others’ reticence might be because they perceive it as a ‘cheaper’ car with less prestige than something from the usual suspects, possibly because it’s got a very, uh… 'practical' set of power and performance figures and possibly that they’re all busy miming oversteer and getting all dippy about Nordschleife laptimes. But it’s probably more likely that it’s just considered a bit boring. Sorry, but its true.

I beg to differ. Practical isn’t dull, and a purchase price somewhere around a hatchback isn’t boring: a Vauxhall Corsa Hybrid in Ultimate trim costs £28,285 for reference, and the Bigster starts at a fiver under £25k. It may be just a longer Duster, but it’s got a lot of bases covered for not a lot of money. And that’s what I want to find out here: is the Bigster incredible VFM, or just cheap? And if those compromises have been made, then has the balancing act been applied in the right way? The usual Ford destruct-test six months is incoming, so we’re about to find out.

But what have we got? Well, this is the new 1.5-litre Hybrid motor (no plug-in), at £26,050 for this upper-level Journey spec, complete with a 107bhp petrol four-cylinder and a pair of electric motors to provide 140bhp. There’s - technically - a four-speed clutchless auto (more on that in the next update because there are two more gears hiding), which together gives… wait for it… 0-62mph in 10.1 seconds and a 105mph top end. OK, so that does sound a bit boring.

But there’s plenty to be getting on with. It’s front-wheel drive only in hybrid spec, so no big off-road trips with this one, but it’s got space (667 litres of boot space, 15 litres more than the Volkswagen Tiguan and almost 80 litres more than something like a Kia Sportage), decent legroom in the rear and enough multimedia to keep you going, even if it’s not exactly lavish. The first 100 miles have revealed 55mpg too, so let’s hope the good vibes keep going.